Blue Ribbon = A+
So, last night we went to Sidecar for the first time. What a mistake. There were many, many employees working, all hanging out, drinking, talking. We were one of a handful of tables and they still forgot to put our order in. It took about 30 minutes between courses and my food came cold and was not good.
Had Moe's for lunch. They have weird control issues. I ordered enchiladas and wanted one to be cheese and the other vegetable. Nope they said. They both have to be the same. Very lame. I have only eaten there about 100 times, but nope, they gotta be the same.
Went to Blue Ribbon tonight, early. Love it. I got the ribs. I mentioned that it would be nice if they had a rib entree, and the waiter said, we can put that together for you. So, it was basically a double order of appetizer ribs, with mashed potatoes and collard greens. It was like eating pork candy. The service was perfect. I said to the waiter that I know I was going to have a few beers, and he said to me that the second beer would arrive right when it was needed. I had about a sip left in my glass and the second beer arrived. Above and beyond what I expect The waiter knew every dish and described them perfectly. It is nice to see people do things right! And, it was only ten dollars more than Sidecar! I don't know why we don't go more often.
Had Moe's for lunch. They have weird control issues. I ordered enchiladas and wanted one to be cheese and the other vegetable. Nope they said. They both have to be the same. Very lame. I have only eaten there about 100 times, but nope, they gotta be the same.
Went to Blue Ribbon tonight, early. Love it. I got the ribs. I mentioned that it would be nice if they had a rib entree, and the waiter said, we can put that together for you. So, it was basically a double order of appetizer ribs, with mashed potatoes and collard greens. It was like eating pork candy. The service was perfect. I said to the waiter that I know I was going to have a few beers, and he said to me that the second beer would arrive right when it was needed. I had about a sip left in my glass and the second beer arrived. Above and beyond what I expect The waiter knew every dish and described them perfectly. It is nice to see people do things right! And, it was only ten dollars more than Sidecar! I don't know why we don't go more often.
Comments
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Subject: Re: Blue Ribbon = A+
pokersloper wrote: So, last night we went to Sidecar for the first time. What a mistake. There were many, many employees working, all hanging out, drinking, talking. We were one of a handful of tables and they still forgot to put our order in. It took about 30 minutes between courses and my food came cold and was not good.
Same exact experience last month. Get it together Sidecar. Crap like this won't keep you open for much longer.
My wife and I went to Blue Ribbon Sushi last night. Perfect food, perfect service, and no drama. I'm getting tired of poor service at too many places in the neighborhood. -
Trash. Selfish trash. And one sided to. Opinions matter, experiences mater, just not as much to others as you have done al di la to you.
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D.R., your comment is even more illogical and senseless than your usual (and that bar is pretty high). Just what problem do you have with the posters' high regard for Al di La?
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Dave,
Yeah, good point, a meal with no drama is a good meal. I don't know how Sidecar can exist. We went there for burgers, to try it out, instead of Johnny Macks, but we will not make that mistake again. -
I have NEVER had bad service at Sidecar. Not once....and their burger is really good
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Comparing Side Car to Blue Ribbon is a bad comparison due to menu, ambiance, and, most importantly, PRICE difference$.
Comparing Johnny Mac's to Side Car makes more sense. -
^agree.
if the comparison is between Sidecar and Johnny Mack's, Sidecar blows them away -
Sidecar is a mole on Blue Ribbon’s illustrious back. Johnny Mack's is the mack daddy of burgers.
Sidecar needs something called a manager. Someone who can say things like, "Hey, I know there are nine people working tonight and only three tables to serve, but in-between our group shots, we should bring out food, check on orders and make sure the food isn’t cold and gross.” -
^guess I won't be running in to you at Sidecar. I find Johnny Mack's truly unimpressive. If I'm on that corner, I"m eating burgers at 12th Street (they are really good, too)
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I don't know why we don't go more often.
I know why I don't...it is freaking expensive. I love love love the service at Blue Ribbon (both of them) but the sticker shock at the end of the meal always leaves me with a bad taste. They're both special places, but not THAT special. -
Our bill was $88.00 at Blue Ribbon and about $78 at Sidecar. Depends on what you order.
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Flexichick wrote: ^guess I won't be running in to you at Sidecar. I find Johnny Mack's truly unimpressive. If I'm on that corner, I"m eating burgers at 12th Street (they are really good, too)
I totally agree with Flexi on this...12th street is a good place to have a reasonably priced burger and the wait staff is just the right degree of attentive. -
12th St. is good, about the same as the Mackers, but slow service and not much seating.
Flipsters was as bad as Sidecar for service, we sat and waited about ten minutes, no waiter, and left. We called for take out a few times, and no delivery person either night. Been to Johnny Macks many times, never had bad service or bad food. Never got a buy back either, but it is not the place to drink all night either. -
pokersloper wrote: Our bill was $88.00 at Blue Ribbon and about $78 at Sidecar. Depends on what you order.
For the same amount and servings of similar drinks and food items?
A salmon entree at Sidecar costs $19 and at Blue Ribbon it is at least $27. -
^^^ agree. Blue Ribbon burger = $14.50. Sidecar = $10
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My wife has corrected me, Blue Ribbon was actually only $8 more than our meal at Sidecar. At Blue Ribbon, I had the ribs (huge entree), two beers and coffee, my wife the prix fixe. At Sidecar, I had the crab cakes special, my wife had a burger, we both had soup. I had two beers.
My wife's $23 Blue Ribbon meal was great, nice size, tasty, exactly what she wanted. Next time we go, I want to try the duck club sandwich, and many other dishes. Of course, I don't want to pay $11.50 for ice cream, but you just gotta order well at the Ribbon.
Sidecar was just lame. Shame, because it is a comfortable place, at least in a booth, but just can't get the food and service down, as far as I experienced and several friends did as well. -
i love sidecar.
and will never go back to jonny macks.
blue ribbon is good, although not a fair comparison in the least.
apples and oranges. -
I'm another one for the goodness at Sidecar. I have never had a problem with service and the food is always excellent.
As to the comparison to Blue Ribbon, Side car is not trying to be Blue Ribbon, although one of the owners worked at Blue Ribbon for a number of years and I know a bunch of the guys from the various Blue Ribbons love Sidecar.
I'm sorry the original poster had a bad experience there and all I can say is to give it another shot. -
Blue Ribbon is a very fair comparison because the prices were almost the same. $8 is just not that much difference for dinner. But yes, I agree with you, Blue Ribbon is much, much better then Sidecar.
If restaurants could be compared to members of the Beatles, Blue Ribbon is John Lennon and Sidecar is Pete Best. No, Pete Best's younger brother. -
i eat at sidecar more than i eat at blue ribbon, that's for sure.
blue ribbon is really a once in a while kinda place for me. i've never spent anywhere near the kind of money at sidecar that i do at blue ribbon.
i usually have a terrific meal at sidecar for 20 or 25 bucks which includes a beer and at blue ribbon that same meal (while good) is 40 or 50 with a drink.
sorry, i really don't see the comparison. you may have spent similar amounts, but i've never had that experience. -
Yeah, comparing Blue Ribbon to Sidecar is like comparing Transformers to Gobots. Who the heck played with Gobots?
No, it is like comparing professional baseball to T-ball cricket. That's the ticket. -
Sidecar's burger is better.
Sidecar's waitresses are cuter.
Blue Ribbon doesn't even try to make a banh mi.
Sidecar makes a perfect Ramos Fizz.
Sidecar plays better ipod mixes.
You can watch your food being made at Sidecar.
I'm sure Blue Ribbon is good for some things - people say so...
But I prefer Sidecar
Where nothing is particularly expensive except for the fried oysters -
zebra you are right about all of the above, and ESPECIALLY about the ramos fizz. i'm not sure where you can get a better one in brooklyn, to be honest.
and yeah, the banh mi is pretty darn delicious too! -
At least the portions were small at Sidecar, so I didn't have to eat that much cold, bland food.
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^we get it. you hate Sidecar. Way to beat a point to death.
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Hey everyone, does Pokersloper like sidecar? I JUST CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT
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Zebra,
You mentioned the iPod mix at Sidecar. For some reason, the acoustics in there are terrible! They played a dBs song, "amplifier," I hadn't heard in years, an old favorite, but I didn't even know it was on until I got up to use the bathroom. I kept saying to my wife, every songs sounds like "The boys are back in town." -
pokersloper wrote: I kept saying to my wife, every songs sounds like "The boys are back in town."
That in itself sounds like a party! -
A party alright, the kind with warm beer, stale chips, no chicks and dudes wearing Rush shirts.
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Subject: sidecar vs blue ribbon
There is something missing from all this. What you describe having at sidecar should total to less than 78 and what you describe having at Blue Ribbon should be more than 88. I would say it's a weird juxtaposition of Sidecar having a bad night, and Blue Ribbon a good one (waiter comping stuff, etc). I think the waiter at Blue Ribbon was angling for a big tip over money on the tab. The rib entree doesn't exist, and I would bet that 9x out of ten if somebody says what you say they either don't get more, or pay more for it. Good for you, but the comparison is not a fair one, there is no doubt Blue Ribbon is way more expensive.
And the fried chicken at Sidecar is among the best in Park Slope.
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